Most people think of hummingbird season as a spring-through-summer thing, but the Georgia Department of Natural Resources has a name for what happens next: Georgia's "second hummingbird season," running from November through February. It's counterintuitive, but more hummingbird species turn up in Georgia during these quiet winter months than during the state's entire warm-weather breeding season — twelve species are on the official Georgia list, only one of them nests here, and nearly all the rest are cold-season visitors.

Whether you're gardening in Atlanta, Savannah, the north Georgia mountains, or the Peach State's rural heart, this guide will walk you through everything you need to turn your space into a Georgia hummingbird destination: when to expect them, how to size your setup to any space, feeder and nectar care, pest-safe cleaning, and the native plants and wildflower seed varieties that thrive in Georgia's climate.

The short version, if you're in a hurry:

To attract hummingbirds in Georgia, put up a leak-proof feeder filled with fresh, dye-free nectar in early March in south Georgia, mid-March in the Piedmont, and late March in the mountains — and leave it up year-round if you're on the coast. Keep it clean and refilled every 1–6 days depending on heat, skip the insecticide so hummingbirds can still hunt insects for protein, and plant native, nectar-rich flowers like red buckeye, coral honeysuckle, and cardinal flower so your yard offers real food alongside the feeder.

• Best feeder type: leak-proof design with a comfort perch, like the AspenPerch® Hummingbird Feeder
• Best nectar: plain 4:1 water-to-sugar ratio, no red dye — or Pop's Nectar with added electrolytes and calcium
• Feeder timing: early March in south Georgia, mid-March in the Piedmont, late March in the mountains — year-round on the coast
• Busiest month: September, when Georgia's own breeding birds are joined by everything moving down from farther north
• Second season: November through February, for winter visitors — mostly on the coast and in south Georgia
• Nectar change frequency: every 1–2 days above 90°F, every 5–6 days below 70°F
• Pest control: no insecticide — use vinegar-water spray and HummGuard™ nectar tips instead
• Top native plants: red buckeye, coral honeysuckle, cardinal flower, bee balm, eastern red columbine (varies by region — see below)
• Best wildflower planting window: October through November, for spring bloom timed to spring migration

Which Hummingbirds You'll See in Georgia

Georgia's hummingbird scene is a genuine study in contrasts: one dependable breeder dominates the warm months, while winter quietly brings some of the most interesting diversity in the entire Southeast. Here's what you're most likely to see:

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The only hummingbird species that nests in Georgia, and the one behind nearly every sighting from March through October. Females do all the work of raising a family alone — building the walnut-sized nest, incubating, and feeding the young without any help from a mate. Georgia DNR notes that females here produce up to two broods a year.

Quick ID: Males have a ruby-red gorget that looks flat black until light hits it head-on. Females and young have plain whitish throats, and young males often show fine dark streaking or a few scattered red flecks by late summer. From April through September it's effectively the only hummingbird in Georgia, so a summer bird needs no second guessing.

Rufous Hummingbird

Georgia's most common winter visitor by a wide margin. Georgia DNR reports that in one winter more than 100 Rufous were documented in the state, and that if a hummingbird shows up at a Georgia feeder in winter, more than likely it's a Rufous. This species is no stranger to cold — it breeds as far north as southeastern Alaska before spending the colder months in the Southeast.

Quick ID: Adult males are unmistakable coppery orange. Most winter birds here aren't males, though — females and young are green-backed with rufous-washed flanks, rufous at the base of the tail, and a few red flecks at the throat. They cannot be reliably separated from Allen's Hummingbird in the field, which is why so many Georgia winter records are logged simply as "Rufous/Allen's."

Black-chinned Hummingbird

A regular winter visitor in smaller numbers, sometimes recorded alongside Rufous Hummingbirds at the same feeder. It's also the species most likely to be overlooked entirely.

Quick ID: Adult males have a velvety black throat edged with a thin band of violet-purple, visible only at the right angle. Females and young are effectively inseparable from Ruby-throated in the field — separating them usually takes measurements taken in the hand, which is why a licensed bander is the best way to know what you have.

Calliope Hummingbird

The smallest bird in North America, and a genuine winter rarity in Georgia — DNR notes that just one or two are typically reported each winter, usually at feeders alongside other out-of-range western visitors.

Quick ID: Tiny even by hummingbird standards, with a noticeably short tail that doesn't reach past the wingtips at rest. Males show magenta streaks radiating down a white throat rather than a solid gorget — unlike any other hummingbird you'll see in Georgia. Females are best left to a bander.

Georgia's full list runs deeper still. The Georgia Ornithological Society's official state checklist includes twelve hummingbird species: alongside the four above, Anna's, Allen's, Broad-tailed, Broad-billed, Buff-bellied, Rivoli's, Blue-throated Mountain-gem, and a single Green-breasted Mango have all been documented here — almost entirely as winter visitors. If you keep a feeder up through the cold months, you're participating in exactly the kind of citizen reporting that built this remarkable list.

When Do Hummingbirds Arrive and Leave Georgia?

Georgia runs from barrier islands to the Blue Ridge, and hummingbird timing shifts by nearly a month across that span. The coast barely has an off-season at all; the mountains have the shortest season in the state.

Statewide Picture

One statewide breeder — Georgia's real winter rarities are too regionally concentrated to show at the state level. The region-by-region detail below, and Thomasville's numbers in particular, tell that part of the story.

How often Ruby-throated turns up on eBird checklists, week by week — statewide, 2016–2025.

Arrival Times by Region

Windows derived from eBird bar chart data (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), 2016–2025, for Chatham, Lowndes, Fulton, and Rabun counties, cross-checked against Georgia Department of Natural Resources and University of Georgia Extension guidance. "First arrivals" is the first week reporting rates rise clearly above the off-season baseline and keep climbing. Lowndes and Rabun counties have far fewer submitted sighting lists than Chatham or Fulton, so their week-to-week figures are less precise than the coastal and Piedmont numbers — the seasonal pattern is reliable, individual weeks less so.

This matches what Georgia DNR has long said: hummingbirds reach south Georgia in early March and the mountain counties a couple of weeks later. The data puts the full spread closer to four weeks, coast to Blue Ridge.

Leaving in the Fall

September is the busiest month almost everywhere in Georgia — the state's own breeding birds are joined by everything funnelling down from farther north, and by then the summer's young are flying too.

Then it ends quickly. Across the Piedmont and the mountains, sightings collapse through October and are essentially finished by month's end. Adult males slip away first, often by late July, while females and young move last. Georgia DNR puts the main departure around mid-October, with males leaving first and females and young following about two weeks later.

Want the full picture? Our Georgia hummingbird season calendar breaks the year down month by month and region by region — including the second season, and why the coast is busier in December than in March.

A Note on Winter Hummingbirds

Here's what the county-level data makes unusually clear: Georgia's winter hummingbirds are a coastal and south Georgia story. Around Savannah, hummingbirds are reported every single week of December, January, and February. Around Valdosta, most weeks. Around Atlanta and up in Rabun County, the winter figure is essentially zero — not rare, but absent.

Georgia DNR is clear about what those coastal and south Georgia winter birds usually are: Rufous is the most commonly seen wintering hummingbird in the state. Black-chinned is the next most regular, with Calliope, Buff-bellied, Broad-billed and others turning up in ones and twos.

Thomasville is the standout. This corner of south Georgia has a documented history of wintering hummingbirds, and Black-chinned in particular turn up there through December and January most years — a pattern local banders have been tracking for decades. Notably, Georgia's own breeding Ruby-throateds are absent there in midwinter; the birds that stay are western visitors.

There's a real caveat worth knowing, though. Female and immature hummingbirds are extremely difficult to identify in the field, and many winter reports are logged either as "Ruby-throated" by default or simply as "hummingbird species." The only way to know for certain is a licensed bander with the bird in hand — which is exactly why Georgia DNR asks the public to report winter hummingbirds to the Wildlife Conservation Section.

Pop's tip: Georgia's Wildlife Resources Division actively encourages residents to keep at least one feeder up through winter. It won't stop your Ruby-throateds from migrating on schedule — they move on day length, not food supply — and it's the single best way to attract, and help document, the state's excellent lineup of winter rarities.

When to Put Your Feeder Up (and Take It Down)

Attracting Hummingbirds No Matter Your Space

You don't need acres of land to invite wonder into your yard. Hummingbirds are famously adaptable — all they're really looking for is a dependable food source, a safe place to perch, and a little color.

Small Patio or Balcony

One feeder hung from a bracket or shepherd's hook, paired with a container of red or orange tubular blooms like scarlet sage, is plenty to get noticed. Hummingbirds are solitary feeders by nature, so a single feeder works great in tight spaces. We put together a guide to which hummingbird products work best on a small patio or balcony if space is tight.

Average Backyard

Add a mix of feeders and native blooms along a fence line or garden bed, and give your visitors a swing or two nearby to rest and survey their territory between sips.

Large Yard with Trees

Take advantage of the shade. Hummingbirds prefer feeders and plantings tucked out of harsh, direct afternoon sun, with a nearby branch to perch on and watch for rivals. Spread multiple feeders far apart, since hummingbirds are territorial and will happily chase each other off a single feeder.

Keep Feeders Clean with Fresh Nectar

Choose a Leak-Proof Feeder

A feeder is only as good as what's in it — and how well it's kept. Pop's AspenPerch® Hummingbird Feeder is leak-proof by design and paired with our patented Polyperch® comfort perch, so your hummingbirds can rest and feed at the same time instead of hovering the whole meal.

Feeding Fundamentals

• Only fill what they'll drink in a few days. An 8 oz feeder rarely needs to be topped all the way off — overfilling just means more nectar sitting around long enough to spoil, especially in Georgia's long, humid summers.
• Skip the red dye. Your feeder's color does the attracting; dyed nectar offers no benefit and isn't necessary.
• Use a real nectar recipe, or save yourself the math with Pop's Nectar, formulated with added electrolytes and calcium to support hummingbirds through the demands of nesting season and migration — no dyes, no preservatives.

How Often to Change Nectar in Georgia

Sugar water ferments faster the hotter and more humid it gets, and Georgia summers bring plenty of both. Use this as your rule of thumb:

If the nectar ever looks cloudy before that window is up, change it early — cloudiness means it's already started to ferment. Our full guide to how often to change hummingbird nectar covers the reasoning in more depth. In winter, take steps to keep nectar from freezing overnight so it's ready for any second-season visitors.

Or skip the math altogether — Pop's Nectar comes pre-measured, dye-free, and with the electrolytes and calcium a nesting female can't get from sugar alone.

Keep Feeders Pest-Free Without Insecticide

Hummingbirds don't live on nectar alone — small insects make up a big part of their protein diet, especially for feeding chicks. That means insect spray is off the table around your feeding station; it removes a food source hummingbirds depend on and can be harmful to them directly.

Instead:

• Clean your feeder every time you change the nectar, using warm water and a bottle brush — no soap residue, no bleach. A little vinegar and water solution works great for breaking down sticky buildup or the beginnings of mold. Our practical guide to cleaning hummingbird feeders walks through the whole routine.
• Deter ants and bees with a vinegar-water spray around (not on) the feeder ports, or wipe down the hanging hook where ants tend to march down. For the full set of options, see our guide to keeping ants away from hummingbird feeders.
• Use HummGuard™ nectar tips if bees and wasps keep crashing the party. They slide right onto the AspenPerch's feeding ports — the flexible membrane opens easily for a hummingbird's beak but closes tight against anything bigger, keeping your nectar exclusively for the birds it's meant for.

Give Them a Place to Rest

Hummingbirds spend a surprising amount of their day perched, not flying — watching their territory, digesting, and simply resting between feedings. A Pop's Original Hummingbird Swing hung near your feeder gives them exactly that spot, and it turns your feeding station into a front-row seat for watching them up close. Hang it within a foot or two of your feeder, and don't be surprised if a hummingbird claims it as their own personal lookout post. Our guide to where to hang your hummingbird swing covers placement in more detail — height, distance, and the sightlines that make one get used.

Plant a Georgia Native Hummingbird Garden

Feeders are a wonderful supplement, but nothing beats real, native nectar. Native plants evolved right alongside Georgia's hummingbirds, so they bloom on the right schedule and produce exactly the nectar these birds are looking for.

Best Native Nectar Plants for Georgia

Pop's tip: If you only have room to plant a few things, Georgia native-plant guides repeatedly point to the same trio: coral honeysuckle, red buckeye, and either bee balm or cardinal flower. Between them, you get coverage from the first spring arrivals through the last fall stragglers. And in winter, sap wells drilled by yellow-bellied sapsuckers become an important food source for the hummingbirds that stay.

If You're Near the Border

Hummingbirds don't check a map before deciding where to feed, so if you're near a state line, your best guide might be a blend of both.

Near Florida: Georgia's winter hummingbird season connects directly into Florida's mild winters — many of the same Rufous individuals likely move between the two. See our Florida hummingbird guide for more.

Near Alabama: Shared Gulf-to-Piedmont climate gradient and nearly identical native plant list. See our Alabama hummingbird guide for more.

Near Tennessee: Both states share the Southeast humidity problem that causes Palmer Penstemon to underperform. See our Tennessee hummingbird guide for more.

Near North Carolina: Northern Georgia's mountains share Blue Ridge species and timing with western North Carolina. See our North Carolina hummingbird guide for more.

Near South Carolina: Nearly identical coastal plain climate and native plant performance. See our South Carolina hummingbird guide for more.

To make this easy, our Perfect Little Sanctuary® Wildflower Seed Blend is designed to bring nectar-rich color into your yard with minimal fuss.

When to Plant the Perfect Little Sanctuary® Blend in Georgia

Fall is the best planting window across Georgia — aim for October through November. This timing is based on the germination needs of the blend's own 12 varieties: 9 of the 12 either need or benefit from a cold, moist stratification period before they'll germinate well, including Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, and Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, and Georgia's cooler winter months provide exactly that. An early spring planting (March) is a solid backup window if you miss fall.

Top Performers in Georgia

The Perfect Little Sanctuary® blend contains 12 varieties, and several are Georgia natives that handle the state's heat and humidity well:

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) — a Georgia native and a long summer-to-fall bloomer
• Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) — Georgia native, reliable through heat and humidity
• Lance-Leaved Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) — native and drought tolerant once established, though botanists note its original range is obscure because it spreads so readily from cultivation
• Perennial Lupine (Lupinus perennis) — native to Georgia, though naturally uncommon here and largely restricted to sandhills and dry open woods. An unusual early-season bloomer, and worth knowing that commercially sold seed is often northern stock rather than Georgia genotypes.
• White Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) — extremely low-maintenance once established, but we wouldn't call it a Georgia native. Botanists now treat the native eastern yarrow as a separate species, Achillea gracilis, while commercially sold A. millefolium seed is almost always European stock. Both handle Georgia's conditions perfectly well.
• Painted Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum) — not a North American native, but a dependable, heat-tolerant annual bloomer that rounds out the bloom season

Pop's tip: You don't need to do anything special to favor the strong performers — just sow the blend as directed. The rest of the mix still adds seasonal color, but these varieties are the ones that will do the heaviest lifting in a Georgia yard.

Summary: Key Takeaways for Attracting Hummingbirds in Georgia

Building a hummingbird-friendly yard doesn't take a green thumb or a big budget — just a little consistency and the right setup. Here's everything from this guide in one place:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are Georgia's only breeding species, but twelve species appear on the official Georgia state list — nearly all the rest are cold-season visitors during Georgia's "second hummingbird season."
• Rufous Hummingbird is by far the most common winter visitor. Georgia DNR has documented more than 100 in a single winter.
• Feeder timing depends on region: early March in south Georgia, mid-March in the Piedmont, late March in the mountains — and year-round on the coast.
• Winter hummingbirds are a coast and south Georgia story — around Savannah they're reported every week of the winter; around Atlanta and in the mountains, essentially never.
• Busiest month statewide is September, not spring.
• Any size space works — one feeder is plenty for a balcony; larger yards can support multiple feeders spaced apart, since hummingbirds are territorial.
• Use a leak-proof feeder with a comfort perch, like the AspenPerch®, and fill it only as full as it'll be drunk in a few days.
• Skip red dye in nectar; a plain 4:1 sugar-water ratio or Pop's Nectar (with electrolytes and calcium) both work.
• Change nectar every 1–2 days above 90°F, up to every 5–6 days below 70°F.
• Clean the feeder at every nectar change with warm water and vinegar — no soap or bleach.
• Never use insecticide near feeders; hummingbirds rely on insects for protein. Use vinegar-water spray and HummGuard™ nectar tips for pest control instead.
• Add a swing near the feeder to give hummingbirds a place to rest and be observed up close.
• Native, nectar-rich plants (coral honeysuckle, red buckeye, cardinal flower, bee balm) do more for hummingbirds long-term than feeders alone.
• Sow wildflower seed in October–November for blooms timed to spring migration; Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, and Perennial Lupine are the strongest Georgia performers in Pop's Perfect Little Sanctuary® blend.

Get these basics in place, and the wonder takes care of itself.

This guide covers what's specific to Georgia — the species, the timing, the plants that belong here. For the fundamentals that apply anywhere, including water sources, shelter, and how the pieces work together, read our guide to building the ultimate hummingbird sanctuary.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few of the questions we hear most from fellow hummingbird lovers across Georgia:

When should I put my hummingbird feeder out in Georgia?

It depends where you are. Early March in south Georgia, mid-March in the Piedmont around Atlanta, and late March in the north Georgia mountains. On the coast, don't take it down at all — hummingbirds are reported around Savannah every week of the year.

What is Georgia's "second hummingbird season"?

A term used by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the period from November through February, when the state hosts more hummingbird species diversity than during the summer breeding season. Rufous is the most common winter visitor, with Black-chinned next, and rarer western species turning up in ones and twos.

Do hummingbirds stay in Georgia year-round?

On the coast, effectively yes — hummingbirds are reported around Savannah every week of the winter. In south Georgia, most weeks. Inland around Atlanta and up in the mountains, winter records are essentially nonexistent. The birds that do stay are mostly western species, especially Rufous, rather than Georgia's own breeding Ruby-throateds.

Why do I see more hummingbirds in September than in spring?

Because you're seeing two groups at once. Georgia's own breeding birds are joined by everything moving down from farther north, and by then the summer's young are flying too. Reports peak in September across the whole state.

What kind of hummingbird is at my feeder in December?

Most likely a Rufous — Georgia DNR says that if a hummingbird turns up at a Georgia feeder in winter, more than likely that's what it is. Black-chinned is next most likely, and rarer western species do appear. Any winter hummingbird is worth reporting to Georgia DNR's Wildlife Conservation Section, because females and young often can't be named without a licensed bander measuring them in the hand.

Is it bad to leave my feeder up in fall?

Not at all — it's a myth that a feeder left up will delay migration. Hummingbirds migrate based on daylight and instinct, not food availability, and a full feeder just helps them refuel for the journey ahead. In Georgia it's actively encouraged, since it's the best way to attract the state's winter visitors.

How often should I clean my hummingbird feeder in Georgia?

Clean it every time you change the nectar — as often as every 1–2 days when temperatures top 90°F, and at least every 5–6 days in cooler weather. Use warm water and a vinegar rinse rather than soap or bleach, which can leave residue.

What are the best plants to attract hummingbirds in Georgia?

Coral honeysuckle, red buckeye, and cardinal flower perform well across the entire state, with bee balm and eastern red columbine as strong supporting choices. Native, tubular, red or orange flowers are the general rule of thumb.

Georgia Hummingbird Resources

Audubon Chapters

Georgia is home to numerous local Audubon chapters across the state. Find the one closest to you with Audubon's Find Your Local Audubon tool.

If You Find an Injured or Grounded Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are protected under federal and Georgia state law, so only a licensed wildlife rehabilitator can legally care for one.

• Georgia DNR — Wildlife Rehabilitator List — the official statewide directory (Special Permit Unit: 770-918-6408)
• AWARE Wildlife Center (Lithonia/Stonecrest) — licensed to treat all native Georgia wildlife, including birds
• Wild Nest Bird Rehab (Decatur) — a nonprofit dedicated specifically to rehabilitating Georgia's injured and orphaned birds

Reporting a Winter Hummingbird

If you have a hummingbird at your feeder between November and February, Georgia DNR's Wildlife Conservation Section wants to hear about it. Winter records are how the state's remarkable hummingbird list has been built, and most of them come from backyard feeders rather than from field surveys.

• Georgia DNR — Hummingbirds in Your Backyard, with reporting details for the Wildlife Conservation Section (116 Rum Creek Drive, Forsyth, GA 31029; 478-994-1438)
• Georgia Hummer Study Group — the reporting portal Georgia DNR points winter hummingbird sightings toward

Hummingbird Research & Banding in Georgia

• Panola Mountain Banding Station (Panola Mountain State Park, Stockbridge), run through the Georgia Bird Observatory by master bander Charlie Muise — the longest-running year-round banding station in Georgia, operating roughly every two weeks since 2008. It bands migrants of many species, and its data supports Georgia DNR's native grassland restoration monitoring.
• Georgia Hummer Study Group — the state's dedicated hummingbird study organization, founded to advance banding and public understanding of hummingbirds.

Hummingbird Events & Festivals in Georgia

• Hogansville Hummingbird Festival (Hogansville) — a long-running community festival held the third weekend of October, and the principal fundraiser for the Hogansville Charitable Trust. Held every year.
• Annual Hummingbird Banding at Smith-Gilbert Gardens (Kennesaw) — a long-running public event featuring live hummingbird banding by Julia Elliott, one of only a small number of people in North America holding a federal Master Permit to band hummingbirds. Includes crafts and a scavenger hunt, and is included with garden admission. Held every year, in late August or early September.

Sources

• eBird bar chart data, Cornell Lab of Ornithology — Georgia statewide plus Chatham, Lowndes, Fulton, and Rabun counties, 2016–2025. Source for arrival, departure, and seasonal presence figures.
• Georgia Ornithological Society — 2023 Official State Checklist. Source for the twelve-species state list.
• Georgia Department of Natural Resources — Hummingbirds in Your Backyard. Source for nesting, brood counts, winter species status, and nectar guidance.
• Georgia DNR — Georgia's Second Hummingbird Season.
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension — Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Georgia Spring Arrival.
• UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant — Creating Native Plant Hummingbird Habitat in Georgia. Source for native nectar plant recommendations.
• Georgia Native Plant Society — 2019 Plant of the Year, Coral Honeysuckle.

Haven't grabbed it yet? Download the free Georgia Quick Reference Guide — one page, print and keep.

At Pop's Birding, we believe every backyard — big or small — has room for a little more wonder. Explore our hummingbird feeders, hummingbird nectar, hummingbird swings, and wildflower seed blends to start building your own hummingbird sanctuary today.